I enjoyed this book immensely. Set in the present day, or the very near future, it opens with 23-year-old April May leaving her unfulfilling tech start-up job at 3am to trudge to the nearest subway station and home. Her attention is caught by a 10-foot-tall metal robot statue standing on the sidewalk. Even in New York City, it stands out. She calls a friend and they film a short mock-interview video with the robot, which they dub Carl, and throw it up on youtube. The next day they are stunned to discover that exact replicas of this statue have appeared in 64 major cities around the world, all at the time, and there is no video footage of them being installed. Furthermore, they might be made from a material not previously known on Earth.

April is a relatably flawed young woman. A deep-rooted fear of commitment drives her away from her wonderful girlfriend, Maya, even as a desperate desire for validation and attention thrusts her into the world's eye. The book chronicles the meteoric rise of her online profile and audience as humanity struggles with the mystery of the Carls. Where did they come from? Are they intelligent and aware? If so, what are their intentions? I enjoyed the clearly written insights on both internet culture and human nature. I was left wondering what I might have done differently, had I landed in April's place.